Cinderella Spell - Laurie Lee Page 0,11
departure, she could call on the magic mirror to return her to the great hall. She lifted the pouch of sacred sand from a secret pocket. It would only take a few grains to connect the reflection of the shop window with the magic mirror. She drew her fingers across the reflection in the glass. “Mirror on the wall, return me to the great hall.” She closed her eyes, stealing herself against the whorl that twisted her stomach.
When she opened her eyes, she no longer stood on a street in the capital. She was home, an old manor house, far removed from the King’s city. Instead of looking at glass reflecting sunlight, she stared at her reflection in the full length, gilded mirror. The reflection she saw was of her masqueraded-self, long blond curls framing a youthful face. The serviceable gown could not hide her shapely body.
Cinderella blinked, and released the masquerade. This time her reflection was taller, thick dark hair framing a beautiful face that had lost its youthful roundness. Cinderella smiled at herself.
She touched the mirror. “Mirror on the wall, answer at my call. Who prevented my will on the girl?”
Her image and the reflection of the hall faded. Another took its place. Cinderella recognized the parade route. Horses flew past, then the scene slowed. A shadow grew from the right side, crossing over the mirror before the carriage rolled into full view.
She frowned. “What does this mean? Show me Doorin’s key.” Though the shadow turned to gray and swirled like mists at the edge of the sea, what Cinderella desired most to see did not materialize. “These shadows are similar. Are these protections around the prince because of the faerie blessings at his christening?” The mirror gave no reply. She huffed. “What do we do against the protectors? I need a way around them.”
The mists blew away. For a moment, the reflection was that of a world with a tempest of sand. Cinderella hid her shudder at the scene. It changed a moment later to the King’s palace. She recognized the hallway with the queen’s bedchamber.
A small eight-legged creature crawled from behind the mirror. It stood a moment on an azure blue tile, a smear of dark on the pristine. Then it crawled to the mirror, passing through its silvery sheen, until it clung to the ceiling in the castle. Fascinated, Cinderella watched it spin a strand of web. “What will this be able to do?”
In the next scene, webs drooped from corners and across doorways. The view moved to the open door of the queen’s bedchamber. The plain woman she’d seen beside the king sat listlessly staring out a window. Webs turned her dark hair gray, yet she didn’t seem to realize they were there. The spiders could weave spells of forgetfulness through the castle. Anyone or anything protecting the prince would be useless against such.
The plan to get herself to the palace began to form. Pleasure stirred in her chest. “Show me my prince.” The mirror’s scene returned to the open carriage. Robert’s dark curly hair brushed forward in a breeze. Laughter spilled from the vehicle. The slim girl bounced on the cushioned seat as flowers rained on them. “Stepsister, I presume. Don’t bother getting attached, dear girl. Robert will be my prince.” He was too young yet, but time would change that soon enough.
As they reached the end of the parade through town, Marissa wiggled her toes among the flowers. Not all were roses.
“Asters symbolize love,” Mrs. Boyde piced up a patch of purple flowers with yellow centers. “As do the chrysanthemums.” She reached further. “This daffodil would not be easy to find. Somenone tended it in a hothouse.”
“What about this?” Marissa picked up a white flower. Just moving it brought a sweet smell.
“Ah, gardenia. They smell almost as good as jasmine. I’m surprised someone would have tossed a yellow hyacinth. No one need be jealous of you.” Mrs. Boyde tossed out the offending plant.
“I remember the yarrow was tossed by a group of children. They were sweet.”
“If we’re done with the lesson,” Prince Robert stood beside Mrs. Boyde, “how about I lift you out?”
Marissa scooted onto the seat of the carriage. She wrapped her right hand around Robert’s wrist, then noticed a flower stand out from the others. “What’s this?” It’s petals were a silvery white with a pink and red center. Marissa picked it up, but Mrs. Boyde took it from her.
“This is a star flower. I placed it there this morning.”
“I’ve